Carbon Dots versus Quantum Dots: Which Perform Better for Latent Fingerprint Imaging
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Gabriella Catarino
College:
The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Major:
Chemistry
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Matthew Mongelli, Subhasish Chatterjee
Abstract:
Latent fingerprints can be detected when placed on certain material which will then be followed by either a fingerprint powder or an ultraviolet light. Both carbon-based quantum dots and traditional quantum dots emit fluorescence in latent fingerprint detection. The fluorescence allows for the detection to create those clearer images and create a higher contrast between the fingerprints from the background. Carbon dots are highly sensitive which allow for them to show through luminescence. With the carbon dots being put into a powder form it allows for it to show up under luminescence. When that happens, it allows for the fingerprint to further show ridge characteristics along with high quality images. Quantum dots are the type of nanoparticles that seem to be the most used for this type of fingerprint detection. Being the most used nanoparticle since it is smaller than 10 nanometers, it allows for that same higher quality image, good ridge characteristics, increased background contrast, and better visibility. Fingerprints shown through red emissive carbon dots show more fingerprint characteristics than other nanoparticle powders. Those characteristics ranging from ridge patterns to ridge characteristics. To determine these ridge patterns and characteristics, the use of visible light or an ultraviolet (UV) lamp is what is primarily used.